10 year-old boy commits suicide in Delta State

It was a sad day for residents of Ujevwu, Udu council area of Delta State, when a 10 year-old boy identified as Emmanuel Raphael, was found hanging on Friday after returning from school with his sister, the incident has left the entire community in fear.

Though being suspected as a suicide, the circumstances surrounding his death have not been unravelled.

It was gathered that it was the second time the deceased had attempted to kill himself.

Emmanuel, who was living with his father, Mr. Raphael and his step-mother, a money lender, allegedly hanged himself with a wrapper tied to an iron bar in the corridors of their bungalow after he reportedly woke up from a siesta.

A source narrated that, “Emmanuel woke up from sleep and was laughing, suddenly he went inside to get a wrapper, he tied it to the iron bar, while standing on a chair. He swirled the cloth round his neck and then kicked the chair away from under his feet.

“The little girl made efforts to save him by trying to untie the wrapper while holding him up, but she was overwhelmed, that was when she shouted for help until neighbours rushed in.”

A source stated that the deceased, about two years ago, had attempted to take his own life in the village while living with his grandmother, but he did not die following the swift intervention of the grandmother who was around when he made the attempt.

Giving further account of what allegedly transpired, a neighbour, quoting the alleged account of the younger sister, said the deceased (Emmanuel) was speaking aloud while sleeping, saying repeatedly that, “someone must die today.”

Alleged efforts to save the boy proved abortive as he was said to have died on the way to the hospital.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, said he had not been briefed about the incident.